Folding treadmill

ABSTRACT

A folding treadmill includes a tread base supported by a foot structure which has guide plates formed with elongated slots on two sides of the tread base. The tread base is connected pivotally on the base support through pivot members which are mounted movably within the respective slots so that the tread base is turnable between a folded position and an unfolded position and movable rearward when the tread base turns to the folded position or forward when the tread base turns to the unfolded position. The foot structure further includes a guide rail structure on two sides of the tread base to support movably a first roller which is attached to the tread base and a lifting device for lifting the tread base.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/884,443, entitled “Folding Treadmill,” filed Jan. 5, 2006.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a treadmill, more particularly to a folding treadmill having a tread base movable rearward or forward relative to a base support when turning to a folded or unfolded position.

2. Description of the Related Art

Treadmills are popular exercise apparatuses which permit a user to perform physical activities, such as walking, jogging or running movements, so as to exercise the cardiovascular system and the other parts of the body. Since treadmills are bulky and occupy a considerable space, it becomes a trend to design a treadmill with a foldable tread base in order to decrease the volume of the treadmill when the treadmill is stored.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,834 discloses a foldable treadmill with a deck having a rear end that is hingedly attached to a stationary base. The treadmill comprises structures capable of performing a linear translation of a handrail relative to the deck. The handrail is automatically collapsed into alignment with the deck when the deck is rotated into a storage position. However, the collapsible design of the handrails renders the handrails unstable. Thus, when a user grips the handrails for support while walking or jogging on the treadmill, the user may lose balance and fall backward. U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,893 discloses a treadmill having a deck that is hingedly attached to a cabinet and having folding handrails which are folded into the cabinet while the treadmill is positioned into a storage position. However, the handle structures disclosed in the aforesaid patents are weak.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,696 discloses a folding treadmill which includes a tread base, and two rollers attached respectively to two sides of the tread base and mounted respectively inside two vertical slide rails. The tread base is turnable about the axes of the rollers to move between a storage position and an operational position. Through upward movement of the rollers along the vertical slide rails, the tread base can move upward to an inclined position. However, since the rollers move only in a vertical direction, the movement of the tread base is restricted by the vertical slide rails so that the tread base moves only upward or downward while the tread base is folded or elevated to its inclined position.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,076 discloses a folding treadmill with a console pivotally mounted about a hinge. The console can be rotated about the hinge while the tread base is placed in a storage position so that the tread base could be substantially vertical without interference between the tread base and the console. However, the construction of the console is complicated since the console must be pivotal about the hinge in order to avoid interference.

While various forms of foldable treadmills have been suggested in the art, there is a need for an improved treadmill having a stable folding structure.

SUMMARY

An object of the present invention is to provide a folding treadmill including a tread base which can be moved rearward, when being folded upward, so as to move away from a console or control board mounted on an upright structure so that the tread base can be folded to a nearly vertical position without interfering with the console or control board.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a folding treadmill with a stable construction which can stabilize a tread base, especially when the tread base is in a folded position.

According to one aspect of the present invention, A folding treadmill comprising: a base support including a front end and a rear end; a guider provided on the base support adjacent the front end and having a slide rail extending substantially in a front-to-rear direction; a pivot member supported movably and guided by said slide rail; a tread base which includes a frame and an endless belt mounted to the frame and which is mounted pivotally to the base support through the slide rail and the pivot member to turn between a folded position and an unfolded position and to move rearward when the tread base turns to the folded position or to move forward when the tread base turns to the unfolded position; and a first roller attached to the tread base and guided and supported by the base support.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a folding treadmill comprises: a base support including a front end and a rear end; a guider provided on the support base adjacent the front end and having a slide rail which extends substantially in a front-to-rear direction and which is inclined downward and rearward; a tread base including a frame and an endless belt mounted to the frame; and a coupler mounted movably on the base support and connected pivotally to the tread base and the guider so as to enable the tread base to turn relative to the support base between a folded position and an unfolded position. The coupler includes a pivot member which is supported movably and guided by the slide rail and which is connected to the tread base so that the tread base is movable rearward and downward when turning to the folded position or is movable forward and upward when turning to the unfolded position. The treadmill further includes a first roller attached to the coupler and supported movably on the base support so as to mount movably the coupler on the base support.

According to still another aspect of the invention, a folding treadmill comprising: a base support including a foot structure and an upright structure extending upward from the foot structure, the foot structure having a front end and a rear end; left and right guide members mounted on the foot structure rearwardly of the upright structure and provided respectively with left and right slots which extend substantially in a front-to-rear direction; left and right pivot members mounted movably and respectively within the left and right slots for moving substantially along the front-to-rear direction; and a tread base which includes a frame and an endless belt mounted to the frame and which is mounted pivotally to the left and right guide members through the pivot members to turn between a folded position and an unfolded position and to move rearward when the tread base turns to the folded position or to move forward when the tread base turns to the unfolded position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the treadmill according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment in an operative unfolded position;

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary enlarged view of a portion of the treadmill shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing that a tread base is being turned upward toward an inoperative folded position;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing that the tread base is in its inoperative folded position;

FIG. 5 is the same view as FIG. 4 but with a portion of a foot structure thereof being removed;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment in its folded position;

FIG. 7 is the same view as FIG. 2 but with the tread base being inclined; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred embodiment.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 2A, a preferred embodiment of a folding treadmill according to the present invention is shown to comprise a base support 2, and a tread base 40 mounted on the base support 2. The base support 2 includes a foot structure 20 and an upright structure 30 extending upward from the foot structure 20. The foot structure 20 has left and right bars 21 which are interconnected by front and rear bars 22 provided at front and rear ends of the foot structure 20. A guide rail structure includes left and right guide rails or grooves 24 which are provided respectively in inner sides of the left and right bars 21.

The upright structure 30 includes two upright tubes 31 and a top panel 34 mounted to top ends of the upright tubes 31. A handle 32 is associated with the top panel 34. The upright tubes 31 are respectively fixed to two positioning posts 23 which extend upward respectively from front ends of the side bars 21.

The tread base 40 includes a frame 43 which has left and right side bars 41, and a wheeled rear foot 45. An endless belt 44 is mounted on the frame 43 and extends between the side bars 41. A motor 46 is mounted to the frame 43 between the side bars 41 in front of the endless belt 44.

According to the present invention, the tread base 40 is mounted to the foot structure 20 through the cooperation of a coupler 60 and a guider 70 for moving between a use position and a storage position. In the embodiment, the tread base 40 is moved between a folded position and an unfolded position. The guider 70 has a slide rail that extends substantially in a front-to-rear direction so that the tread base 40 is movable rearward when turning to the folded position and forward when turning to the unfolded position.

Specifically, the guider 70 includes left and right guide plates 71 projecting upward from the respective side bars 21 rearwardly of the upright structure 30. The slide rail of the guider 70 includes left and right elongated slots 72 which extend respectively in the left and right guide plates 71 and substantially in a front-to-rear direction and which are inclined rearward and downward from a front end 721 to a rear end 722 while extending in the front-to-rear direction.

The coupler 60 includes left and right coupling members each of which includes a first arm 64, and a second arm 61 which is connected rigidly and angled to the first arm 64. The second arm 61 has an extension 611 which projects forwardly from a juncture of the first and second arms 64, 61 in a direction away from the first and second arms 64, 61. A first transverse bar 62 has two ends connected respectively to the extension 611 of the second arms 61.

The first arms 64 have first ends 641 which are connected pivotally to the respective guide plates 71. The pivot connection between the first ends and the guide plates may be accomplished through one or more pivot member. In this embodiment, left and right pivot members 73 are provided to connect the first arms 64 to the slots 72 of the respective guide plates 71. Each pivot member 73 includes a rolling pin 731 passing through the corresponding slot 72, two stop pieces 732 and 733 disposed outside the slot 72 on two sides of the rolling pin 731, a headed screw 734 which passes through the rolling pin 731, the stop pieces 732, 733, and one of the first arm 64. A locking nut 735 is attached threadedly to the screw 734. The rolling pin 731 is thus held movably in the corresponding slot 72.

The second arms 61 have second ends 612 which are attached pivotally and respectively to two brackets 65, that project downward from the bottom sides of the side bars 41 of the tread base 40, by means of pivot members 67.

The coupler 60 is mounted movably on the foot structure 20 by using at least a pair of left and right first rollers 63. The left and right first rollers 63 are attached respectively to two spindles 66 (only one is shown) projecting outwardly in opposite directions from the extensions 611 of the second arms 61. The first rollers 63 are received movably within the guide grooves 24 of the side bars 21, respectively.

Each of the left and right coupling members of the coupler 60 further includes a third arm 81 which has a front end 811 mounted on the spindle 66 provided at the extension 611 of the second arm 61. The third arm 81 is therefore pivoted to the extension 611 coaxially with the corresponding first roller 63. In other words, the third arm 81 is pivotal about the spindle 66 which is journaled in the first roller 63. A second transverse bar 82 has two opposite ends respectively connected to flanges 813 projecting from rear ends 812 of the third arms 81.

Left and right second rollers 84 are attached respectively to two spindles 83 which are mounted respectively to the rear ends 812 of the third arms 81 and which are received movably and respectively in the guide grooves 24.

An inclining device 90 is connected between the tread base 40 and the coupler 60 for moving the tread base 40 to an inclined position. Specifically, the inclining device 90 is a power-operated first lifting member or telescopic member 93 which has a motor 94 to rotate an extension rod 95 to extend outward or retract inward. The first telescopic member 93 is connected pivotally to a bracket 91 mounted on the frame 43 of the tread base 40 adjacent to a motor 46. One end of the extension rod 95 is pivoted to another bracket 92 which is mounted on the first transverse bar 62.

A lifting device 80 is connected between the tread base 40 and the coupler 60 for moving the tread base 40 to the folded position. Specifically, the lifting device 80 includes power-operated left and right lifting members or second telescopic members 86 each of which has one end attached a bracket 85 projecting downward from the bottom side of one of the side bars 41 and another end connected to the flange 813 of the corresponding third arm 81.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 8 in combination with FIG. 2, a top cover 100 and a bottom cover 101 are provided on the tread base 40 to cover the motor 46.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the treadmill is in use, the tread base 40 is in an operative unfolded position. In particular, the wheeled rear support 45 of the tread base 40 rests on a supporting surface F, and the tread base 40 is substantially horizontal. In this situation, the pivot members 73 are proximate to the front ends 721 of the slots 72, and the first arms 64 of the coupler 60 are substantially vertical, whereas the second arms 61 are substantially horizontal. Each first roller 63 and Each second roller 84 are received within one of the guide grooves 24 of the foot structure 20.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, when the rear part of the tread base 40 is turned upward by applying an external force thereto, the front end of the tread base 40 moves downward and the second arms 61 are pulled upward and rearward so that the first arms 64 and the pivot members 73 are moved downward and rearward. When the tread base 40 reaches its inoperative folded position, the pivot members 73 are at the lowest rear ends 722 of the slots 72. In the folded position, the tread base 40 leans against the handle unit 30 and is angled to the support surface F by an angle of substantially 85 degrees.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 2A, 7 and 8, when the tread base 40 is to be moved to an inclined position from a horizontal position, the motor 94 is actuated to cause the extension rod 95 of the telescopic member 93 to extend outward and raise the tread base 40. As the tread base 40 is raised, the first arms 61 are turned upward about the axis of the first rollers from a position shown in FIG. 2A to a position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 so that the second arms 64 are raised and the pivot members 73 are moved upward along a vertical slot section (x) at the front ends 721 of the slots 72. When the tread base 40 is to be lowered, the motor 94 may be actuated to rotate in an opposite direction to retract the extension rod 95 of the telescopic member 93.

The advantageous effects of the present invention are described as follows:

Since the second telescopic members 86 of the lifting device 80 are mounted on the foot structure 20 through the moving coupler 60 and the first and second rollers 63 and 84, when the tread base 40 is lifted by the second telescopic members 86, the second telescopic members 86 can be moved rearward together with the tread base 40 so that the tread base 40 can be moved to a nearly vertical stable position.

The slots 72 of the slide rail of the guider 70 which are inclined rearward and downward permit the tread base 40 to move rearward and downward when the tread base 40 is turned upward so that the center of gravity of the tread base 40 can be lowered and the tread base 40 can be stabilized in its folded position.

Due to the front and rear rollers 63 and 84 which are spaced apart from each other by the third arms 81, the tread base 40 can be supported stably on the foot structure 20 when placed in the folded position. In addition, since the front and rear rollers 63 and 84 are held together by the third arms 81 that are movable along with the second arms 61, the tread base 40 and the lifting members 86 are permitted to move together relative to the foot structure 20 for effecting positional adjustment, thereby increasing the stability of the tread base 40 in a folded position. In case the tread base 40 in its folded state is subjected to impacts, the tread base 40 is able to self-balance through movement on the foot structure 2 and thus prevented from falling down accidentally.

Since the tread base 40 is supported by the first telescopic member 93 which is attached to the bracket 91, the second telescopic members 86 which are attached to the brackets 85 and the coupler 60 which is attached to the bracket 65, the entire load on the tread base 40 is shared by the first and second telescopic members 93, 86 and the coupler 60, thereby minimizing damage to the components of the tread mill due to stress concentration.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A folding treadmill comprising: (a) a base support having a foot structure positioning on a surface; (b) a tread base including a frame and an endless belt mounted to the frame, the tread base being rotatable between a use position and a storage position; (c) at least one upward member extending from the foot structure and having an open therein; (d) a coupler including left and right coupling members, each of the coupling members having a second arm pivotally connected to the tread base and a first arm extending upwardly from the front portion of the second arm, the first arm being substantially perpendicular to the second arm, the upper portion of the first arm connected to the open of the upward member; (e) an inclining device connected between the tread base and the coupler to move the tread base between a non-inclined and an inclined position; and (f) a pivot member mounted between the upper portion of the first arm of one of the coupling members and the open of the upward member wherein the first arm is substantially perpendicular to the surface when the tread base is in the use and non-inclined position and the first arm is substantially parallel to the surface when the tread base is in the storage and non-inclined position.
 2. The folding treadmill of claim 1, wherein the open of the upward member is a slot which extends substantially in a front-to-rear direction.
 3. The folding treadmill of claim 2, wherein the pivot member coupled within the slot for moving substantially along the front-to-rear direction.
 4. The folding treadmill of claim 3, wherein the pivot member is moved rearward when the tread base is moved from the use position to the storage position.
 5. The folding treadmill of claim 3, wherein the pivot member is moved downward when the tread base is moved from the use position to the storage position.
 6. The folding treadmill of claim 5, wherein the pivot member is respectively at lowest position within the slot when the tread base is in the storage position.
 7. A folding treadmill comprising: (a) a base support having a foot structure positioning on a surface; (b) a tread base including a frame and an endless belt mounted to the frame, the tread base being rotatable between a use position and a storage position; (c) at least one upward member extending from the foot structure and having an open therein; (d) a coupler including left and right coupling members, each of the coupling members having a second arm pivotally connected to the tread base and a first arm extending upwardly from the front portion of the second arm, the first arm being substantially perpendicular to the second arm, the upper portion of the first arm connected to the open of the upward member; (e) an inclining device connected between the tread base and the coupler to move the tread base between a non-inclined and an inclined position; and (f) a pivot member mounted between the upper portion of the first arm of one of the coupling members and the open of the upward member wherein the first arm is substantially parallel to the surface when the tread base is in the storage and non-inclined position which has an included angle of 80 degrees to 90 degrees relative to the surface. 